Airfares have increased exponentially for domestic travel especially to western region in India amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. One way direct ticket from Delhi to Mumbai is now starting at Rs 20,000.
The fares of one stop flight between Delhi and Mumbai are starting from Rs 8,500. While New Delhi to Goa, flight tickets are starting from Rs 12,000. Delhi to Srinagar flights has faced serious effect of the tension and merely a couple of airlines are running on this route.
A sudden increase in fares is a result of temporarily shutting down of several airports in North India amid tensions with Pakistan. The Mumbai airport has also been put on high alert and the government has asked schools to exercise caution.
According to Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, India carried out airstrikes at Jaish-e-Mohammed camps in Balakot in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and destroyed a large number of terrorists active there as well theirs top commanders. The terror camp was located in a thick forest area atop a hill and led by Ustad Gauri, brother-in-law of JeM chief Masood Azhar.
One Pakistan fighter aircraft was shot down by a MiG-21 jet of the Indian Air Force and in vengeance Pakistan violated ceasefire started shelling along Line of Control. Its Air Force too shot down one MiG-21 aircraft and captured IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
